Assault Cases Research Articles

Textile-based wearable device for detection of date rape drugs in drinks

In this article, a sensing element for detection of date rape drugs in drinks is presented. The element consists of a three-dimensional printed holder, in which two embroidered electrodes have been fixed, forming a capacitive structure. As the dielectric properties of the liquid between these electrodes’ changes, the capacitance and consequently the impedance are changed. For experimental purposes, diazepam, a model rape drug, sucrose, and sodium chloride, which are used as control ingredients, were dissolved in a 40% V/V alcoholic beverage, serving as solutions for testing and comparison. The selectivity, repeatability, and sensitivity of the proposed sensor were tested. The sensitivity of detection of 1 mg/ml of diazepam in drinks was 0.92628 Ωl/mg, sucrose was 0.94774 Ωl/mg and sodium chloride was 2.46867 Ωl/mg, at 1 MHz. Moreover, with the use of the Cole impedance model, the selectivity of the sensor in the detection of diazepam, through the Nyquist plot and parameter estimation, has been achieved. Sensor repeatability was calculated through the relative standard deviation with the result for 1 mg/ml of diazepam dissolved in alcohol on 1 MHz being 2.48, in terms of impedance modulus. The presented sensor platform can successfully detect drugs in drinks and can protect from many cases of such assaults in a real world.

Interlaboratory Comparison of SpermX™ and Conventional Differential Extractions Indicated High Male DNA Recovery by the SpermX Method

The National Institute of Justice reported that current methods for processing sexual assault samples have a high failure rate, with 60 to 80 percent of tested kits unable to produce usable DNA profiles. Even when samples test positive for male DNA, 34 percent of sexual assault kits (SAKs) do not yield recovered male DNA after differential extraction. Less than 30% recovery of available sperm DNA contributes to this low success rate. The SpermX™ method (SX) has been shown to recover 80 percent or more of sperm DNA from sexual assault samples. An interlaboratory evaluation compared SX to standard differential extraction (DE) protocols. Mock samples with known ratios of female epithelial cells and sperm cells were processed using both methods. Results revealed that SX consistently provided CODIS up-loadable DNA profiles, even with as few as 25 sperm cells, whereas DE failed to produce usable results. On average, SX yielded a seven-fold increase in the recovery of unshared male alleles compared to DE. In conclusion, SX outperformed DE in recovering higher quantities of male DNA with minimal female carryover in sexual assault-type samples. This improved success rate in obtaining usable DNA profiles can significantly aid in solving sexual assault cases.

Juror Personality on Sexual Assault Verdicts Utilizing the Big Five Model

The prevalence of sexual assault and the low number of sexual assault convictions makes it imperative to research such judicial matters. The key element or constant in each trial would be the jury. The jury decides whether or not to convict the defendant. In order to increase the rightful convictions, a study on jurors was done; specifically a study on juror personality. By reviewing previous studies done on juror personality, there appears to be a connection between juror personality and bias toward sexual assault (Clark et al., 2007). To study this, a survey was sent out to willing participants who are eligible to be jurors. The survey included a personality test portion and a sexual assault prompt portion. The personality test portion included questions pertaining to the Agreeableness facet and the sexual assault case prompts made the participants vote guilty or not guilty for the defendant charged. The results showed that there was no correlation between the specific Agreeableness facet and bias toward sexual assault; however, there was evidence showing that the 31-40 Agreeableness score range (from 10-50), yielded the highest bias against the defendant. The implications of this study have applications in various legal fields to convict sexual assaulters to a higher extent.

SEXUAL ASSAULT, FORENSIC INVESTIGATION, AND LEGAL SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN: A REVIEW

Sexual assaults are horrific crimes and major human rights violations everywhere, particularly against women and children. According to statistical surveys around the globe, the occurrences of sexual assaults are more common in developed countries. According to different survey reports published in The Nation, almost 11 cases are reported every 24 hours in Pakistan. Besides this high occurrence rate of rape cases, many cases go unreported. Conviction rates are surprisingly as low as 0.5% due to multiple factors like the unfamiliarity of victims with the legal procedures and basic human rights, the social pressure created by the families of victims, time-consuming and challenging legal processes, worry about retaliation from the attacker etc. With the prevalence of modern scientific technologies and trends in the World, modern and improved technologies and techniques like DNA testing and DNA profiling are being used in Pakistan also, even with the limited availability of full-fledged forensic labs. The need of the hour is to spread awareness and to enhance the literacy rate because more than 60 million people lack knowledge about basic human rights and the legal procedures regarding assault cases that they must follow in case of any unfortunate happenings.

A novel three-step DNA extraction method for mixed bloodstains.

Mixed DNA samples from at least two contributors can be present at a crime scene, which could be the most crucial piece of genetic evidence. The mixed stains in sexual assault cases are typically separated using differential lysis procedures (a two-step method). Blood mixed stains, however, are usually difficult to separate. In this work, we propose that a mixed stain comprises three layers, that is, (1) the upper layer which is primarily made up of cells from one contributor; (2) the middle layer which is a similar mixture from two contributors; and (3) the lower layer which primarily comprises cells from the other contributor. Based on this concept, a novel three-step DNA extraction method was proposed to solve the challenge involving bloodstains from two contributors. In the experiment, we extracted three layers DNA from mixed bloodstains using three steps. As a result, single-source DNA and approximate single-source DNA were detected from steps 1 and 3, respectively. This study demonstrates that the DNA from some mixed blood stains could be effectively separated following an appropriate extraction strategy, providing valuable insights, and serving as a reference for future examination of blood mixtures.

A person was raped, who is the agent?

This paper focuses on media coverage of cases of sexual assault committed by public figures in the Québec cultural landscape who were publicly accused by their victims over the course of two #MeToo movements. We consider the four cases of: Gilbert Rozon, Éric Salvail, Julien Lacroix, and Maripier Morin. While the former two cases have been to court, the latter two have not. We are interested in how the media talk about the sexual assaults committed, specifically the lexical items and patterns of syntactic agency, depending on whether the case was prosecuted or not. Our data consist of the headline and first paragraph of articles published about the cases in three influential francophone newspapers in Québec. We argue that the media coverage of the sexual assault cases analyzed reinforces the ideology that sexual assaults in prosecuted cases are more credible and severe than those that are not prosecuted in court.

A novel approach for exploring the regional features of vaginal fluids based on microbial relative abundance and alpha diversity

Vaginal fluids are one of the most common biological samples in forensic sexual assault cases, and their characterization is vital to narrow the scope of investigation. Presently, approaches for identifying vaginal fluids in different regions are not only rare but also have certain limitations. However, the microbiome has shown the potential to identify the source of body fluids and reveal the characteristics of individuals. In this study, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the vaginal microbial community from three regions, Sichuan, Hainan and Hunan. In addition, data on relative abundance and alpha diversity were used to construct a random forest model. The results revealed that the dominant genera in the three regions were Lactobacillus, followed by Gardnerella. In addition, Ureaplasma, Nitrospira, Nocardiodes, Veillonella and g-norank-f-Vicinamibacteraceae were significantly enriched genera in Sichuan, llumatobacter was enriched in Hainan, and Pseudomonas was enriched in Hunan. The random forest classifier based on combined data on relative abundance and alpha diversity had a good ability to distinguish vaginal fluids with similar dominant microbial compositions in the three regions. The study suggests that combining high-throughput sequencing data with machine learning models has good potential for application in the biogeographic inference of vaginal fluids.

The Role of Witnesses in Prosecuting Cases of Fatal Assault: Legal and Sociological Perspectives

The act of physical assault is one of the persistent phenomena that is difficult to eradicate in society. Various acts of violence, such as physical abuse and battery, often result in injuries to the victim's body or body parts, and sometimes even lead to lifelong physical disabilities or, in severe cases, death. In criminal cases, witnesses hold a crucial position in determining prosecution, as they are considered lawful instruments. This study examines the role of witnesses in the prosecution of cases of fatal assault. The research method employed in this study is normative legal research, also known as doctrinal legal research or library-based legal research. This type of research is conducted by examining secondary data, including primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and tertiary legal materials. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that witnesses play a significant and pivotal role in uncovering the truth and facilitating prosecution. From both legal and sociological perspectives, the role of witnesses includes providing evidence, giving testimony, and supporting the public prosecutor. As such, it can be concluded that witnesses have an important role in prosecution, as stipulated in Article 184 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

Applying Sexual Education to Elementary School Children in the Digital Native Era

In this digital native era, numerous cases of harassment, assault, and violence against women, including sexual harassment, have occurred within society. It is disheartening to note that not only adults but also children are vulnerable to becoming victims, resulting in negative impacts on them both physically and psychologically. These circumstances form the basis for researchers to investigate the implementation of sexual education for elementary school children. This study aims to: 1) understand the extent of teachers' and parents' understanding of sexual education, and 2) describe the implementation of sexual education at SD Muhammadiyah 1 Surakarta. A qualitative research method was employed, utilizing a phenomenological approach and a qualitative descriptive case study design. To ensure data validity, the researcher employed triangulation of sources and techniques. Data analysis involved three stages: data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Data were collected through interviews and documentation related to sexual education in elementary schools. The findings of the research indicate that both parents and teachers have a strong understanding of the importance of sexual education for children in the digital native era, considering the prevalence of such cases in society. This understanding serves as a foundation for anticipating and preventing negative outcomes. The implementation of sexual education at SD Muhammadiyah 1 Surakarta is commendable, as evidenced by classroom learning activities, supportive initiatives, adequate facilities and infrastructure, and collaboration with parents. These indicators demonstrate that the school is prepared and concerned about sexual education.

Comparative Analysis of Metaphor Usage and Lexical Structure: A Case Study of Shiori Ito and Kris Wu Events

In light of the growing influence of the #MeToo movement, the portrayal of female victims of sexual assault has gained significant attention in the media. This research paper undertakes a comparative analysis of language structures and metaphors employed in news coverage, specifically examining the cases of Shiori Ito and Kris Wu. The objective of this study is to investigate the linguistic components used in news reports from various Chinese and Western media outlets, such as The New York Times, China Daily, The Global Times, and the BBC. Through the examination of six carefully selected news stories, the aim of this paper is to gain insight into the overall framework of these articles and discern the media's stance towards incidents of sexual assault. On top of that, from the research, most of victims dare to narrate the details and processes of the cases. Meanwhile, the Chinese and Western mainstream medias have distinctive approaches to report news about sexual assault case, as well as to anti-sexual assault reports especially for #MeToo movement that received increasing attentions from global world.

Alcopops Disproportionately Consumed by Minors in Sexual Assault Cases

Alcopops Disproportionately Consumed by Minors in Sexual Assault Cases

Framing Detik.com dalam Pemberitaan Penganiayaan David

The widespread news coverage of an assault case committed by Mario Dandy against the victim David has attracted public attention. This news has elicited various responses from the public towards the behavior of the son of the director general of taxes Rafael Alun Trisambodo, so many media outlets have reported this case from different perspectives. This study aims to find out the news framing (framing) about David's assault on Detik.com. This study uses a qualitative approach with Robert N. Entman's framing analysis method. With this method, the researcher found that Detik.com focused more on the motive and chronology of the assault, background, and identity of the perpetrator and victim. In addition, Detik.com is suspected of giving special treatment to AG or Agnes by disguising her identity and showing a child legal justice system that is unfair and ineffective. Furthermore, Media Detik.com reported the violence experienced by David as an intolerable act, especially if the assault occurred to a woman. Media detik.com also gave different coverage by bringing various sources in each news. As a suggestion, Detik.com should be careful in writing news so as not to be wrong in facts. In addition, news readers should be alert when reading the news because a wide insight is needed to understand the case reported by online media.

Differences in patterns of sexual assault among female victims preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of encounters in an emergency department

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the number and patterns of sexual assault victims within a German metropolitan city. A retrospective single center analysis of the gynecology examination reports of all women presenting to the emergency department of a university hospital after a sexual offense between 03/2013 and 02/2021 (n = 1167). Comparison of the first year of the pandemic 03/2000-03/2021) to previous years (03/2017-02/2020) and comparison of periods of government-imposed social distancing (03/12/2020-05/23/2020 and 10/23/2020-02/28/2021) with corresponding periods of pre-pandemic years. The overall number of sexual assault cases did not change during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during the stay-at-home orders, the number of women presenting to the emergency department decreased by 38% (n=45 vs. 72). Fewer victims filed a police report during the pandemic (49.5% vs. 73.9%, p<0.001) and the lockdown period (50% vs. 76.5%, p<0.001). Less genital injuries after sexual assault were detected during the pandemic (14.3% vs. 25.2%, p<0.02), but there was an increase of illegal substance abuse (19.5% vs. 9.3%, p<0.003). During the stay-at-home orders fewer victims reported alcohol consumption (42.4% vs. 62.5 %, p<0.023). Despite the decrease in sexual offense related police reports, the number of sexual assault cases remained consistent, and the usage of illegal drugs increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings represent the importance of providing support to sexual assault victims, as well as the implementation of preventative measures, especially in times of crisis.

Time-dependent change in the microbiota structure of seminal stains exposed to indoor environmental.

Seminal stains acquired from fabric surfaces stand as pivotal biological evidence of utmost significance for elucidating sexual assault cases. The ability to determine the temporal aspect of a forensic incident via the analysis of a biological specimen found at the crime scene is crucial in resolving most cases. This study aimed to investigate the time-dependent change in the microbiota structure of human seminal stains exposed to indoor environmental conditions. Stains on polyester fabric generated using semen samples from five male volunteers were kept indoors for varying durations of up to 20 days, followed by sequencing of the V1-V9 regions of the 16S rRNA gene of the microbial DNA extracted from the stains. The acquired data provided the taxonomic composition, and microbial alterations across different days were examined. The most abundantly detected phyla in all samples were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, and the relative abundances of bacteria were observed to change over time. Statistically significant changes at the species level were found for Treponema medium, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Anaerostipes hadrus. Alterations observed in the samples between the analyzed time periods were investigated. The changes during the specified time periods were examined, identifying rare bacterial species that were initially present on certain days but later ceased to exist in the environment. Conversely, bacterial species that were absent before exposure but emerged at a later stage were also identified. The findings of this study demonstrate that species-level evaluations, in particular, can provide crucial insights into semen stain age.

PROFILING OF MEDICOLEGAL CASES OF MECHANICAL INJURIES TO HEAD AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Aims and Objectives: The study aims to profile the medicolegal cases of head injury in relation to its sociodemographic distribution, the type and nature of the injury, and the type of skull fractures reported. Methods: The present prospective study of 318 medicolegal assault cases for mechanical injuries exclusively to the head, including the face, which reported a total of 404 wounds on the head and face, who reported to the emergency, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital attached to Government Medical College, Amritsar was conducted November 1, 2018, to April 2020. The study was conducted after seeking permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee, Government Medical College, Amritsar. Results: Among the total of 318 cases, the majority of them, 289 (90.9%) were male and 29 (9.1%) were female. Two hundred and forty-four (76.7%) of the reported cases belonged to a rural background, whereas 74 (23.3%) were from an urban background. The most common was the cortical cut reported in 29 (37.2%) cases, followed by depressed fractures in 22 (28.2%) cases. The comminuted fractures were present in 18 (23.1%) cases, whereas there was a fissure fracture in 09 (11.5%) cases. Conclusion: It is observed that assault-related cases of medicolegal injuries on the head are much more common in the younger generation and rural population. Thus prevention of assault-related activities, the primary focus should be encouraging the young generation about rationalism and tolerance.

The weakest link? Investigative issues in serial sexual assault that lead to wrongful conviction

Wrongful conviction of an innocent person is an extreme type of injustice that plagues the criminal justice system today. Wrongful conviction for a sexual offense is especially traumatic for the individual due to the inherent stigma surrounding this type of crime; however, there is a dearth of research focusing on the unique aspects of both the offense and the investigation that may contribute to those convictions. The current study sought to answer the following research questions: 1-Are most sexual assault wrongful convictions in series inter-racial? 2- Does relational misattribution play a role in wrongful conviction for sexual assault? 3-Where in the series do wrongful convictions occur? 4-Do wrongful convictions in serial sexual assault cases occur primarily due to behavioral inconsistency on the part of the perpetrator (i.e., the crime for which there is a wrongful conviction appears to be significantly different from the rest of the series) leading to linkage blindness? 5-To what extent does police misconduct and other investigative issues play a role in mishandling of the offense as a one-off as opposed to part of series? Data for this study included 43 violent sexual series where a proven wrongful conviction was present for at least one of the crimes. Results suggest that thorough investigation, evidence testing, and the ability to reopen cases after similar incidents can reduce wrongful sexual assault convictions. Distinguishing between group and solo offending, stranger and acquaintance offenses, and developing investigative models that account for serial crime behavior change can improve investigative accuracy.

Uncovering forensic evidence of drug-facilitated sexual assault: Toxicological findings from Eastern Denmark from 2015–2022

In drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), the victim is unable to provide consent or resists sexual activity due to substance intoxication by voluntary or covert consumption. Obtaining forensic evidence of the assault is challenged by rapid drug metabolism and late sample collection. The objective of this study was to present toxicological findings and associated demographics from police reported sexual assault cases in Eastern Denmark from 2015 to 2022. A total of 369 sexual assault cases were submitted for analysis and a subgroup of 268 cases were categorized as suspected DFSA cases. The majority of the total sexual assault victims were women at the age 15–25 and the perpetrators were often unknown or an acquaintance. Time from assault to sample collection was slightly longer for suspected DFSA cases (12–24 h) compared to non-DFSA (<12 h). Positive toxicology was observed in 86 % of cases and the most common drug groups included alcohol (45 %), drugs of abuse (38 %), antidepressants (14 %), antihistamines (12 %), and benzodiazepines (11 %). Hypnotics were detected to a smaller extent (7 %). A total of 77 drugs were detected and the most commonly observed were cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cetirizine, amphetamine, diazepam and sertraline. The high level of observed alcohol and drugs of abuse indicated that most DFSA cases in Eastern Denmark were of an opportunistic approach rather than proactive.

"That is Not Behavior Consistent With a Rape Victim": The Effects of Officer Displays of Doubt on Sexual Assault Case Processing and Victim Participation.

Despite the prevalence and severity of sexual violence, case attrition has been identified as a significant issue. Of the cases that are reported to police, only a small portion result in arrest, prosecution, or conviction. Research has revealed that much of this attrition occurs early in the process and that a number of theoretically supported legal (e.g., physical evidence, victim participation) and extralegal (e.g., demographics, victim credibility) factors influence how and whether a case progresses through the criminal justice system. However, few researchers have directly examined the impact of officer doubt on case processing. Whereas legal and extralegal factors represent case characteristics, doubt represents officer cognition about these characteristics. These perceptions can affect how victims are treated, how police investigate the case, and ultimately, the case's progression through the system. A random sample of sexual assault reports from one police department in a medium-sized jurisdiction in the western U.S. was drawn to examine the expression of officer doubt, as well as its impact on victim participation, arrest, and referral for prosecution while controlling for relevant legal and extralegal factors. The findings suggest that officer doubt is an important consideration in sexual assault case processing, independent of other legal and extralegal factors, and that it significantly impacts the likelihood of arrest and referral for prosecution. Consistent with previous research, police decision-making was also impacted by certain legal factors. Victim participation was not directly affected by officer doubt but it was predicted by extralegal factors. Implications for future sexual assault research and practitioner training are discussed.

Pendidikan Karakter dan Kewarganegaraan Sejak Dini: Sebuah Upaya Mengatasi Degradasi Moral di Era 4.0

This writing is motivated by the phenomenon of immaturity and the inability to use technology properly which has a negative impact on the moral quality of humans themselves such as moral degradation, namely a decline or decrease in one's level of behavior. The emergence of cases of rape, murder, assault, brawls, and other bad acts shows that the current generation is still weak in morals. Therefore, this study aims to find a solution in dealing with moral degradation by instilling character education and civic values from an early age together. By using the research method of library research (library search) which analyzes, examines and explores it so that the correct steps are obtained in instilling the values of character education and citizenship. The results of this study indicate that character and citizenship education is an important alternative to overcome moral degradation which is declining due to the influence of the digital era 4.0 which includes religious values, honesty, tolerance, discipline, hard work, creative, independent, democratic, national spirit, love of the motherland, respect, achievement, communicative, peace-loving, and responsible.

What’s Missing Matters: Examining Missing Data Problems in Sexual Assault Kit Data

ABSTRACT Hundreds of thousands of sexual assault kits (SAKs) remain unsubmitted nationwide despite their potential usefulness in the successful prosecution of alleged perpetrators. Literature explores the probative value of SAK evidence in sexual assault cases. SAK evidence is processed along a three-link criminal justice chain of custody involving (1) health-care professionals who enter data into a forensic medical report (FMR) and then transfer both to (2) law enforcement and finally to (3) crime laboratories. FMRs are transferred along one or more record management systems (RMS) and may or may not be updated by receiving agencies as new evidence is collected. Consequently, researchers who have examined SAK data nationwide have consistently encountered problems with extensive missing, unreliable, and inconsistent data entry associated with varying survivor, assault, and case characteristics. The current study examines the relationship between missing data on these characteristics and SAK submission status among 371 unsubmitted and 371 submitted SAKs in Los Angeles (1982–2010) to examine these “missingness” problems. Results reveal a significant relationship between missing SAK data and kit submission status. We argue that the “missingness matters” as it may hinder effective case processing, the capacity of scholars to conduct rigorous/valid research, and most importantly, disadvantage just outcomes for survivors.